On Thursday, ESPN cut the cord on its much-hyped PBS Frontline partnership regarding concussions in pro football. In so doing, ESPN denied that it had received any pressure from the NFL.

On Friday, of course, a report has emerged that the NFL did indeed pressure ESPN to quit biting the hand it’s currently feeding more than $1 billion per year.

According to James Andrew Miller of the New York Times, “two people with direct knowledge of the situation” contend that the NFL placed pressure on ESPN to exit the joint venture with PBS. Per the report, Commissioner Roger Goodell was directly involved in the effort...